Internet star Paige Spiranac has hogged most of the limelight in the build-up to the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters this year, but Hall of Famer Dame Laura Davies doesn’t think much of social media.
The 22-year-old Spiranac turned professional this year after a decent college golf career, but she is not a member of any Tour at the moment and is known more for her skills with Instagram, where she now has close to half a million followers, and Twitter.
She has received a special sponsor’s exemption to play in the season-ending championship of the Ladies European Tour.
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And while Davies, one of the most successful players in the history of women’s golf, claims Spiranac deserves being given a chance, she needs to prove herself on the golf course.
When asked if she knows Spiranac, the 52-year-old Briton said: “I don’t know her from a bar of soap, I really don’t.
“I’ve obviously heard what some of the players have said, but I’ve not met her. I saw her last night at the party, didn’t speak to her. So I shouldn’t really…I mean, good luck to her.
“Everyone needs a chance and if she’s a good player, then I think it’s great she’s here. If she’s here for any other reason than she’s a great golfer, then it’s a little bit pointless.
“But we have to give her a chance. She might go and win the tournament and then it’s the best decision ever made.”
As for her own social media skills, Davies added: “Well, I’m old fashioned. I don’t like Tweeting. I don’t like Facebook. I’ve got none of that. I guess I have a Facebook account but I’ve never touched it.
Evening prep underway @EmiratesGC for the @OmegaDLM @golfindubai @thestripegroup @PaigeSpiranac pic.twitter.com/Pvt9Ukip3Z
— Craig Haldane (@haldane_craig) December 8, 2015
“Someone set that up for me and thought that would be funny, so that’s that. The Twitter one, maybe one or two Tweets a year or whatever you call it.
“But that thing has passed me by. I don’t really enjoy that side of it but I know a lot of people get so much pleasure out of it, and if it’s helping the women’s tour, then I’m all for it.
“I’ve been told by some of the Tour officials I should do it more, but that ship’s sailed. I can’t get into it at all.
“Obviously, it’s a very important part of modern day life and sport, so, yeah, if they want to do it, let them do it. But I won’t be doing it.”
